Living Happily After

59: Just this once

They walked inside a tavern, immediately greeted.

"Mr. Fernandez! I see you brought some friends to my lovely tavern!" Travis greeted Conrad and the other officers.

"Actually, they wanted to have a drink at this tavern." Conrad chuckled at the high spirits Travis is in.

"Oh? Well, welcome to the local tavern, take your seats where ever you'd like."

They took seats at a corner booth. After drinks were ordered and served, Gilbert offered to pay and had no second thought about it.

The first phrase that started a conversation was that of a senior States Officer.

"So, 'Gilbert', you alright if we ask a few questions?" The older officer called out.

"Mm, yes?" He replied.

"Got anything interesting to share?" Another officer asked.

"Mm, not really..." He said, scratching his nape, slightly remembering that his old conversations in the military as a Private was like this too.

"Aww, come on, no girlfriend? No interesting back stories?"

"Well, I do have a wife. And-" He claimed before he was interrupted by another officer.

"Oh really? Should've expected, how old are you anyway?" Said the officer, taking a sip of his drink.

"I'm 30 years old as of a few days ago. How about you men, what are your ages and how long are you in the service?" Gilbert asked, drinking his drink as well.

"I am 34 years old, been a States Officer of Gardarik for 5 years now."

"I'm 24, a States Officer for 1 year!"

"I am 45 years old, I'm a States Officer for 7 years and counting."

And then Conrad answered. "I'm 46, I was just recently recruited but I plan to continue working this job 'til I can't anymore. I quite enjoy it." He said, smiling.

For a brief moment, everyone noticed his sincerity.

"Yes, of course. That's good that you guys are well into this service. But if you don't mind my asking, did any of you do military service?" Gilbert asked, curious if they might question this background.

"Umm, no."

"Yeah, me neither."

"No."

"I don't think I can stand a chance, haha-"

"Oh." Gilbert replied. It was the first word that came out from his mind to out his mouth.

"Why? Is something the problem concerning the military?"

"Yeah? Have you experienced bad blood with them?"

Gilbert had to chuckle a bit. "Oh, no, quite the opposite actually. I am involved with the military, to put it more clearly, I was born in a military based family."

"Oh...so how many years are you or were you in service for?"

"Mm, well, as I recall correctly, I joined as soon as I could so I joined when I was 15 years old." Gilbert replied, slightly smiling at the memory.

"Wow, that young?"

"Yes. My father was strict on that. And then, mmm, I just retired a year ago, so that would make my service about...14 years." Gilbert declared.

"Wow."

"That's quite an experience."

"Yes, it is." He replied.

"Hehe, who knew that our new Sergeant was going to be this interesting a fellow!"

Conversations were tossed around, talking and laughing about trivial things, they chatting like some old friends, it was somewhat relaxing, something Gilbert haven't felt in a while.

Before they knew it, the tavern was closing up for the day, it seemed it was a day bar.

Luckily, the drinks they drank were few. Unfortunately though, the drinks they ordered last were quite strong. When one of the officers noticed the laying of the sun, Gilbert felt the responsibility to call it.

As Conrad neared his home, he looked behind him to inform Gilbert of that.

Gilbert supposed he drank a bit too much, just enough to make himself tipsy, his mind is a bit too clouded to think too much.

"Hey, my house is near now." Conrad called to him.

"Ah, yeah. You go on ahead, I'll just take a short walk around the area to sober up a bit." Gilbert replied, walking past a street light.

"Okay then, just go to the house soon, I warn you that not all the street lights in the area work when it's out dark." Conrad said, before entering his home.

Gilbert just nodded and waved his hand.

'Isn't too cold in Gardarik for a late March....ugh, what am I thinking? It's cold in Leiden too, here's just colder.' He said to his thoughts.

Gilbert just kept on walking around, admiring and thinking under the warm street lights and cold weather.

Before he realized it, his thinking process stopped when he noticed there weren't any street lights in the area anymore.

He noticed an alley, with door to the narrow other side. He thought to himself.

'Let's satisfy my curiosity just this once then.'

Then he opened the door.